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Each laboratory node is equipped with an Arduino Uno R3 development board, based on the ATmega328P MCU. It also has two extension boards:
There are 10 laboratory nodes. They can be used independently, but for collaboration, nodes are interconnected symmetrically, with GPIOs described in the hardware reference section below.
The table 1 lists all hardware components and details. Note that some elements are accessible, but their use is not supported via the remote lab, e.g., buttons and a buzzer.
The node is depicted in the figure 1 and its interface visual schematic is presented in the figure 2. The schematic presents only components used in scenarios and accessible via the VREL NextGen environment (controllable and observable via video stream), omitting unused components such as buttons, a buzzer, and a potentiometer.
| Component ID | Component | Hardware Details (controller) | Control method | GPIOs (as mapped to the Arduno Uno) | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D1 | LED (red) | direct via GPIO | binary (0→on, 1→off) | GPIO13 | |
| D2 | LED (red) | direct via GPIO | binary (0→on, 1→off) | GPIO12 | |
| D3 | LED (red) | direct via GPIO | binary (0→on, 1→off) | GPIO11 | |
| D4 | LED (red) | direct via GPIO | binary (0→on, 1→off) | GPIO10 | shared with interconnection with another module |
Devices (laboratory nodes) are interconnected in pairs, so it is possible to work in groups and implement scenarios involving more than one device:
Interconnections are symmetrical, so that device 1 can send data to device 2 and vice versa (similar to serial communication). Note that analogue inputs are also involved in the interconnection interface. See image 3 for details.
The in-series resistors protect the Arduino boards' outputs from excessive current when both pins are configured as outputs with opposite logic states.
The capacitors on the analogue lines filter the PWM signal, providing a stable voltage for the analogue-to-digital converter to measure.
| Arduino Uno pin name | AVR pin name | Alternate function | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| D2 | PD2 | INT0 | Interrupt input |
| D5 | PD5 | T1 | Timer/counter input |
| D6 | PD6 | OC0A | PWM output to generate analogue voltage |
| D9 | PB1 | OC1A | Digital output / Timer output |
| D10 | PB2 | OC1B | Digital output / Timer output |
| A5 | PC5 | ADC5 | Analogue input |
Such a connection makes it possible to implement a variety of scenarios: